Services We Provide
The goal of our staff is to provide the highest quality medical and surgical skin care to patients of all ages. Below is a list of the services we provide; if you would like to schedule a consultation please contact us at (207) 775-3526.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Common and Rare Skin Conditions🩺 Mohs Surgery: A Simple Guide
What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs (pronounced “Moes”) surgery is a special way to treat skin cancer. It is different from other surgeries because it is very precise.
The goal of Mohs surgery is to do two things:
- ✅ Remove all of the skin cancer.
- 🛡️ Save as much healthy skin as possible.
This makes it a great choice for sensitive areas like your face, nose, ears, or fingers.
Why is it called “Mohs”?
It is named after Dr. Frederic Mohs. He was the doctor who invented this method.
🎬 See the Procedure
To see how the surgery works, watch this helpful video: Mohs Surgery: The Most Effective Treatment for Skin Cancer from the American College of Mohs Surgery.
How does it work? ⚙️
Most surgeries cut out a big piece of skin to be safe. Mohs is different. The doctor removes the cancer layer by layer, like peeling an onion 🧅.
Step 1: Numbing the Area 💉
First, the doctor will numb your skin with a shot. You will be awake for the surgery, but you will not feel any pain after the numbing injection. You can relax, read a book, or listen to music 🎧.
Step 2: Removing a Layer 🩹
The doctor removes a very thin layer of skin where the cancer is visible. They also put a small bandage on you.
Step 3: The Lab Check 🔬
This is the most important part. While you wait in the waiting room, the doctor takes that layer of skin to a lab right there in the office. They look at it under a microscope.
They are looking for “roots” of the cancer that might be hiding under the skin.
Step 4: Is the Cancer Gone? 🔎
- If the doctor sees no cancer: You are all done! 👍
- If the doctor sees cancer: They know exactly where it is. They will call you back in and remove another thin layer only from that specific spot.
This saves your healthy skin because the doctor only cuts where the cancer is.
Step 5: Closing the Wound 🧵
Once all the cancer is gone, the doctor will talk to you about the best way to close the opening.
- Simple Stitches: For most small wounds, the doctor just pulls the edges together and stitches them up in a straight line.
However, if the wound is large or in a tricky spot (like on your nose, eyelid, or lip), simple stitches might pull the skin too tight. To make sure your skin looks good and works properly, the doctor might use one of these methods:
- Skin Flap (Sliding Skin): The doctor gently loosens the skin right next to the wound and slides it over to cover the hole. This helps because the skin matches perfectly.
- Skin Graft (Patching Skin): The doctor takes a small piece of skin from another place on your body (often from behind your ear or near your collarbone). They use this piece like a patch to cover the wound.
The doctor will choose the method that will leave the smallest scar and help you heal the best.
Visual Guide: The Mohs Surgery Process
Why is Mohs Surgery so good? 🏆
- Highest Cure Rate: 🥇 It has up to a 99% success rate for curing skin cancer.
- One Visit: 🗓️ The surgery and the lab work happen on the same day. You don’t have to wait days for results.
- Small Scars: ✨ Because we save your healthy skin, the scar is as small as possible.
How to Prepare 🎒
- Eat Breakfast: 🥞 It is good to eat a normal breakfast before you come in.
- Bring a Book: 📖 You might have to wait while the doctor checks your skin in the lab. Bring something to do to pass the time.
- Ask Questions: 🗣️ We are here to help. If you are worried, please tell us!
After the Surgery 🏠
You will go home the same day. You might be a little sore, but most people feel okay. We will give you a paper that explains exactly how to take care of your stitches.
You will go home the same day. You might be a little sore, but most people feel okay. We will give you a paper that explains exactly how to take care of your stitches.
It is important to relax and take it easy for the first 48 hours to help reduce the risk of bleeding. You should avoid strenuous exercise until your doctor tells you it is okay.
Watch this video for a complete guide on how to care for your surgical site: Postoperative Care for Mohs Surgery.
Have more questions about Mohs surgery? Call our clinic today to book a consultation prior to your surgery if you would like. 📞
Want to Learn More? 📚
|For more detailed information about Mohs surgery, you can visit these trusted websites:
Melanoma Staged Excision (Slow Mohs): A Simple Guide
What is a Melanoma Staged Excision?
This procedure is a special and very careful way to remove a serious type of skin cancer called Melanoma.
Doctors sometimes call this procedure “Slow Mohs” because it is like Mohs surgery, but the lab steps take a little longer.
This surgery is most often used for melanomas that are superficial (meaning they are only on the top layers of your skin).
The goal is the same as Mohs surgery, but because melanoma can be more dangerous, we are even more careful:
- ✅ Remove all of the melanoma cancer.
- 🛡️ Save as much healthy skin as possible, especially on tricky spots like the head and neck.
Why is it different from regular Mohs? 🔬
Regular Mohs surgery uses a fast freezing method to check the skin. For melanoma, we need a special, detailed lab check to find all the cancer cells. This check takes more time—usually 24 to 48 hours.
Because of this, the surgery is done in two stages over one or two days.
How does it work? ⚙️
This surgery happens in two main parts, often on separate days.
Stage 1: Removing the Cancer (Day 1)
Step 1: Numbing the Area 💉
First, the doctor will numb your skin with a shot. You will be awake for the surgery, but you will not feel any pain after the numbing injection.
Step 2: Removing the Melanoma 🔪
The doctor removes the visible melanoma, plus a small amount of healthy-looking skin around it. This healthy border is called a “margin.”
Step 3: Bandage and Wait ⏳
The wound is cleaned and covered with a clean, sturdy bandage. The wound is NOT closed yet. You will go home to rest.
The removed tissue is sent to the lab for the detailed check. This is why it is called a “staged” procedure—we wait for the results before moving to the next stage.
Stage 2: Closing the Wound (Day 2 or Later)
Step 4: The Lab Results Check 🔎
When the lab results come back, the doctor will know exactly if the margins (the edges of the removed skin) are clear of cancer.
- If the margins are clear: You are all set to move to closing the wound! 👍
- If the lab finds cancer in the margins: The doctor knows exactly where the cancer “roots” are. They will numb the spot again and remove a small, extra area of skin only from where the cancer was found. This step is repeated until all the margins are clear (repeating the removal and lab check process of Stage 1).
Step 5: Closing the Wound 🧵
Once the doctor confirms all the cancer is gone, they will close the wound.
- Simple Stitches: For small wounds, they use stitches in a straight line.
- Reconstruction (Flaps or Grafts): Since these cancers are often on the head or neck, the wound might need special closing to look and work right:
- Skin Flap (Sliding Skin): Skin right next to the wound is loosened and slid over the hole.
- Skin Graft (Patching Skin): A small patch of skin is taken from another body part to cover the wound.
The goal is to prevent long-term cosmetic or functional issues.
Why choose Staged Excision for Melanoma? 🏆
- Best Chance for Cure: 🥇 This detailed process gives you the highest possible confidence that the entire melanoma is gone.
- Maximum Tissue Saved: We only remove the minimum amount of skin necessary to ensure a cure.
- Precise Reconstruction: Closing the wound happens after we are sure the cancer is clear, allowing the doctor to plan the best way to fix the skin.
How to Prepare 🎒
- Eat Breakfast: 🥞 Come to the clinic well-fed.
- Plan for Waiting: 🗓️ You will need to come back for at least one additional visit.
- Ask Questions: 🗣️ If you are worried, please tell us!
After the Surgery 🏠
You will go home after each stage. We will give you special care instructions for the temporary bandage after Stage 1. When the wound is finally closed, we will give you a paper that explains exactly how to take care of your stitches.
Ready to learn more about your surgery? Call our clinic today to book a consultation. 📞
Want to Learn More? 📚
For more detailed information about Melanoma and skin cancer surgery, you can visit these trusted websites:
